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Saturday, 23 February 2013

Country Bites News snippets Feb 4 - Feb 10, 2013

Country Bites News snippets February 4 – February 10

SOURCES/LINKS show in RED

UK & IRISH News

With Sugarland partner Jennifer Nettles spending time with her three-month-old baby boy, Magnus aka “little baby Nettles”, Kristian Bush is heading for Ireland for a Country Music Association (CMA) songwriters show.

Kristian will perform at Whelan's in Dublin on Thursday, February 21, with fellow Nashville songwriters Bob DiPiero, Brett James and Chris Young.

"If you've never been to this show, let me tell you that it's different to a normal concert," Kristian says. "Everybody plays their own songs next to each other in a row, with just a guitar. We talk about the songs and it's a wonderful way to hear about the stories behind them and how they became hits."There's no strict format to the show, it's a free for all and we take questions from the audience. There's no telling what might happen, but the best part for me is that I don't even pick what I'm going to play next”

Watch the video above for a LIVE version of Kristian Bush's performance of the Bruce Springsteen classic 'Atlantic City' from the 2012 In Your Hands Tour! - YouTube

Jimmy Buckley, who picked up the Entertainer of the Year gong at this year's Sunday World Country Music Awards, is among the acts at Paul Claffey's Festival in Westport, Co. Mayo, from April 7 - April 11, 2013

Travellin Rose’s new album CINDERELLA DREAMING (Eversholt Music Limited) has appeared as digital tracks on CD Baby

It is planned be made available on Amazon and iTunes in the near future.

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Travellin Rose
New album graphics

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Blurb: Two vibrant gypsy girls (Talia Smith and Kelly Lee) from the South of England meet the best of Nashville's session talent to create a mid-Atlantic country music experience. Written entirely by Travellin Rose, these songs excite, amuse and pull at the heartstrings.

DSD shared a picture of their attractive CD Format packaging design and logo wishing them both the best of luck!

Travellin Tweets: Travellin Rose @TravellinRose #ohmygosh saw the album today for the first time today !! Yay 'Cinderella Dreamin' OUR DEBUT ALBUM will be available SOON xxxxx

Phil Mack from the Phil Mack Country Show [Showcase TV] joined BBC Radio Essex’s “Big Country” presenter Steve Cherelle live in the studio on Sunday Feb 12, 2013. Listen to the edited interview >> Audio

Extract: Steve Cherelle: It’s a known fact that the over 50’s have quite a bit of time and money to spend, they’ve got the funds to go and do that [attend shows buy CD’s] = Chancellor, if this is true and your listening, think about the taxpayers funding the Winter Fuel Payments lolPhil Mack: The advertisers come on board, that’s the finance for going forward, advertisers are piling on board and want to back the show= Hands up if you record the show and fast forward through the adverts! lol

The Phil Mack Show can be viewed on Network Sky channel 191 (Showcase) and also Freesat 400. It is first shown on

Monday nights at 9pm (G.M.T.), with several repeats.

Steve will be appearing at two Phil Mack International live Show events on:

Jenn Bostic, American Nashville pop/country/singer songwriter, returns to the UK for a 7-date tour to share music from her outstanding debut album ‘Jealous’ (which will receive a full UK release on 25th March 2013).

Taylor Swift’s “I Knew You Were Trouble” (Mercury) moves 4-9. The dub-step single sold 27,257 copies. Her worldwide “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” dropped one place 52-66 in its 25th chart week, selling copies 4,700. “Love Story” rose 88-81 receiving a mild Valentines boost.

On the Official UK Albums Top 100 (Week February 16, 2013)

Taylor Swift’sRED fell 16-23 it sold 6,100 copies

Making their chart comeback are The Mavericks who debut at No.37 (3,521 sales) with IN TIME. It marks the group's first album since a self-titled 2003 release peaked at #65.

The album on Decca/Big Machine came out several week’s ahead of America on 4 Feb 2013 in the UK – Amazon UK

Only their 1998 breakthrough album TRAMPOLINE charted higher, reaching No.10 which contained their major signature hit single “Dance The Night Away”, which reached #4 and has sold 496,534 copies. Lead vocalist and band leader Raul Malo has issued six studio albums since the last Mavericks album was released, but all fell short of the Top 75.

For fans in America who want that retro feel for "In Time", there is a vinyl pre-order package!

Read the review of The Mavericks recent show at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall from The Independent.

Official UK Country Album (Week February 16 2013)

The Mavericks bow at No.1 with IN TIME (Valory Music) in their first UK retail week.

On Facebook they wrote: Thank you to all our UK fans for making this possible. We have amazing fans! -Raul // IN TIME is #1 in UK!!

Lady Antebellum drop 2-1 with NEED YOU NOW in its 81st chart week and their album OWN THE NIGHT moved down one to No.3 in its 55th chart week.

On the Hotdisc Chart (Feb 10, 2013 Chart)

New American “star” Rusty Rierson (pronounced RYE-ER-SON) has begun his European career with a No.1 on the Hotdisc Top 40 in his first week of release. It is a very rare occurrence for a new singer with a new original song to have found such instant complimentary favour from the European DJs and media with his ballad “Souvenirs” (Track 12 on February’s Hotdisc 169), which is a real heartbreaker about a son looking through the box of souvenirs left behind by his late father. The song was written by Tom Gaffney and Larry McCoy and is the title cut >> YouTube

Rusty, is one of six new entries inside the Top 10 this week:

At No.2 see’s Victoria Shaw duet with Colm Kirwan on one of her biggest songs (co-written with Chuck Cannon), "I Love The Way You Love Me", while at #3 Toby Keith, who promotes his singles to the UK via the Rush Released promo disc, debuts with title cut "Hope On The Rocks".

David Wood & Kim Everett with “Can’t Dance To The Blues” bullets at #6, George Inglis’ “The Old Time Rock n’ Roll” bows at No.7. He also charts at #3 on the Hotdisc British & Irish Chart winning honours for this weeks Hottest UK debut.

Colm Kirwan has a solo effort debut at No.8 covering the popular “Never Alone” written by ace songwriting trio of Victoria Shaw, Gary Burr and Sarah Buxton. Newcomer Joel Crouse debuts at #11 with “If You Want Some” written with Jamie Houston and Luke Laird.

British singer songwriter Graham Clark's "I'm Not Inclined" remains unseated at No.1 on the British & Irish Hotdisc Top 10 with Kathryn Anderson at #2 who holds off the new Hotdisc debuts with her excellent track “Write A Letter”

UK COUNTRY ALBUM RELEASES

Heidi Talbot who plays the Old Fruitmarket in Glasgow, as part of Celtic Connections, on January 27 has a new album ANGELS WITHOUT WINGS (Compass Records) is out on February 18.

Her husband is Scottish folk musician John McCusker.

She will be performing a London launch gig with special guests Boo Hewerdine, Andy Cutting, Julie Fowlis, Ian Carr & John McCusker - Cecil Sharp House Feb 21st (£16.50)

Kristy Cox returned to Nashville after a successful Tamworth Country Music Festival. She writes : Well some may call me crazy but its time for a new album! I'm off to Nashville today to start writing for my new album! Due out mid way this year!!

She also spilled the news that she has been selected to showcase with her band at the 2013 European World of Bluegrass Festival in the Netherlands this May. 2013 kicked off on a major high for Kristy as she was a featured performer at the 2013 CMAA Country Music Awards of Australia. Being invited to sing her recent charting hit 'Miles & Timezones' was certainly a career highlight.

With her latest album release, Kristy was a finalist in two categories at this years awards including New Talent of the Year & Alternative Country Album of the Year...The European World of Bluegrass Festival is held annually in Voorthuizen (just outside of Amsterdam) in The Netherlands. Each year over 40 bands from all over the world are given the opportunity to perform in front of festival organizers, radio presenters and fans from the European Bluegrass Circuit.

This will be Kristy's first trip to Europe which allows her to take her music to a new audience. Kristy and her band have now started to lock in other shows across Europe to maximize the opportunity and get in front of more people.

The McClymonts have received the two most prestigious awards in Australian Country Music.They’ve been awarded the “ARIA Country Album of the Year” by the Australian Recording Industry Association. This honour was followed by winning the Golden Guitar for the “Highest Selling Australian Album” at the Australian Country Music Awards.

“Winning the highest selling album of the year is so gratifying for us. We just want to thank our fans who gave us this award by making Two Worlds Collide the biggest-selling Australian album of the year,” says Mollie McClymont.

“A very special thanks goes to our 3 producers on this album, Peter Asher, Luke Wooten, and Nathan Chapman. All three of you are amazing and such a pleasure to work with. We feel so lucky to have had you gentlemen on our team,” adds Samantha McClymont.

The McClymonts also took home the Golden Guitar for “Video of the Year” for their single, “Piece of Me” from their current Australian album, TWO WORLDS COLLIDE.“Piece of Me” is the celebrated group’s seventh #1 single in a row from their last 2 albums, Wrapped up Good and Two Worlds Collide.

The latest album by the acclaimed sisters has not yet been released in the U.S. But, the group’s management team is optimistic about discussions planned with record labels during their return to Nashville this month.

After touring North America over the last 3 summers as independent artists on their own label, The McClymonts have their sights set on following fellow Australian Keith Urban into the U.S. market and working with a major label.

Many MusicCity insiders predict that Australia’s most successful country group definitely has what it takes to pick up where The Dixie Chicks left off.

Their soaring harmonies and electrifying stage show has impressed many promoters, reporters, and country stars over the last few summers while performing throughout the U.S.

Brooke McClymont, the group’s lead singer, recently gave birth to her first child, a beautiful baby girl named Tiggy Heart. “This baby is going to be a road baby. My sisters are already fighting over who will be the favorite aunty. So, I have no problem with getting plenty of help on the road with Tiggy,” she says. Awwwwww – Photo!(Webster & Associates PR)

iCAN Australia is pleased to announce their 2nd cruise will be on the 27th April 2013. Fans can join along with Chris E Thomas ,Luke O'shea And Jeremy Edwards for a 4hour cruise on the worlds “best harbour”, Sydney.

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Lawrie Minson (L)
& Linsay Waddington (R)

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Lawrie Monson & Lindsay Waddington have won the Instrumental category of the Stan Coster Australian Bush Ballad Award for the “Warrumbungle Mare”

CANADIAN NEWS

Jaida Dreyer has been nominated for a Canadian Radio Music Award!

It is Jaida's first nomination and we're very excited to see "Guy's Girl" represented in the Country category, alongside several great country music talents.

Sponsored by Astral Radio, the 16th Annual CRMAs take place during Canadian Music Week, celebrating first-time charted artists and honoring individuals or groups among them with some of the most played songs at Canadian radio -- the awards will be handed out Wednesday, March 20, 2013, 7 p.m. at Kool Haus in Toronto.

A worldwide smash, “I Knew You WereTrouble” reached#1 on Radio in the UK, where Taylor Swift’s album RED was just certified Platinum. “Trouble” has also reached #1 on the radio airplay charts in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Denmark, and is Top 10 in countries spanning four continents. “Trouble” has been certified 4X Platinum in New Zealand, 3X Platinum in the U.S. and Canada, and is Platinum or Gold in South Africa, the UK, Norway and Ireland. Released on Big Machine Records, RED

has been certified 4X Platinum in the U.S. for sales in excess of 4 million albums, and has worldwide sales topping 5.4 million.

Country Clearwater Revival: Miranda Lambert will help John Fogerty, the Creedence Clearwater Revival frontman on the title track for his new album WROTE A SONG. Fogerty has also recruited on the upcoming release from the country music world: help him out:

"Bad Moon Rising" with Zac Brown Band, "Born on the Bayou" with Kid Rock, "Hot Rod Heart" with Brad Paisley and "Have You Ever Seen the Rain" with Alan Jackson

The album includes classic CCR songs with Foo Fighters, Bob Seger and more, as well as two new ones from Fogerty. It drops on May 28, 2013.

Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman make a point to be with each other as much as possible, but sometimes their relationship happens virtually when they're on opposite sides of the globe. That's exactly what happened recently when Keith got to their house in Sydney and turned on the TV to see his wife walk the red carpet at the Screen Actors Guild Awards in Los Angeles.

"I got to see what she was wearing," Keith tells Sydney's Daily Telegraph. "I hit pause on one shot and stood there staring at her...and started crying. I hated the fact she was there without me, on her own." Aw schucks...

Competition was fierce in February with the Super Bowl showdown who won the 2013 Taste of Country Bowl?

It was congrats to Taylor Swift and her fans! Together, Team Swifties topped 15 other country music fanbases to finish on top at the end of the first-ever Taste of Country Bowl. Nearly three quarters of a million fans voted during the month-long competition which had nail-biting finishes in each round.

Swift and her supporters pulled away from Carrie Underwood late in the week-long Finals. The ‘Begin Again’ hitmaker scored just over 53 percent of the vote to Underwood’s 47 percent. It was a well-played match with fans of both women voting — and voting often. Underwood galvanized her fans twice on Facebook, but in the end, Swifties worldwide would not be denied.

Taylor Swift’s road to the finals went through Hunter Hayes, Lady Antebellum, and then Brantley Gilbert and Scotty McCreery in a three-way Semi-Finals matchup. Underwood bested Little Big Town, Brad Paisley and then Eric Church to earn a spot in the ToC Bowl Finals.

Taylor Swift landed the coveted show-opening performance slot on this Sunday’s 55th Annual Grammy Awards continues to add shows to her upcoming RED Tour, whichkicks off on March 13th in Omaha, Nebraska. The RED Tour will now include 13 stadium stops, for a total of 66 shows in 47 cities in 29 states and 3 provinces in 2013. - www.taylorswift.com

Miranda Lambert says she hopes to collaborate with both Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood in the future.

The ‘Fastest Girl in Town’ singer told OMG Yahoo that she views Swift and Underwood as an asset to country music, rather than “competition”. “I would like to work with [Taylor] and with Carrie Underwood too,” Lambert explained, adding: “There is room for [all of] us three.” She went on to say: “We are all three different [styles] of country – well Taylor’s kind of all over everywhere – but I think it would be cool for the three of us to collaborate.”“I love girl power. I say the more the merrier! It’s not competition. It makes us all look better to help each other.”

Blake Shelton might spend a lot of time in California due to “The Voice,” but he’ll soon be leaving L.A. and heading to Malibu, “Malibu Country” that is. HuffPost TV revealed today that Sheltonwill make a cameo on an upcoming episode of Reba’s sitcom, “Malibu Country.” Reba has expressed interest in having Blake appear alongside her since the show’s inception. In an interview with CountryMusicIsLoveprior to the show’s premiere, she said she’d love to have him, and Kelly Clarkson, be a part of the show. “Absolutely! I’ve already asked them, they said they would definitely do it.”

Shelton, who will portray the role of Reba’s brother, will appear on the March 1 episode.

GeorgeStrait can soon add one more career achievement when the Country Radio Broadcasters (CRB) present him with the Career Achievement Award during the Country Radio Hall of Fame Induction later this month.

Strait will receive his CRB Achievement Award for being an artist who has made a significant contribution to the development and promotion of country music and country radio through his creativity, vision and performance. The presentation will be held Tuesday, February 26, officially kicking off the 2013 Country Radio Seminar (CRS) in Nashville.

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Hillary & Adam

﻿Great Scott: Up until this point, the secrets of country music have been reserved exclusively for Team Blake. But now, Lady Antebellum's Hillary Scott will pull the curtain aside for Team Adam to reveal three cords and the truth. Scott will act as a mentor alongside coach Adam Levine on the upcoming season of The Voice. Scott tells Access Hollywood, "I’m sure [we’ll have] way more fun than Blake’s team!” Season four begins March 25 on NBC-TV

Toby Keith will kick off his HAMMER DOWN TOUR June 8 in Ozark, AR. It will be sponsored once again by Ford F-Series, the tour includes at least 20 dates through September. Supporting is special guest Kip Moore.

Colt Ford has teamed with John Anderson to perform Anderson’s “Swingin’” on the soundtrack for the upcoming indie comedy Super Zeroes. Montgomery Gentry, Blackberry Smoke and more appear on the album, to be released Feb. 19.

SINGLE / ALBUM NEWS

The Eagles’ Don Henley will release a new solo album called CASSCOUNTY in May. Henley said the album “leans towards country. Some of it’s traditional country, some of it is what you might call alt-country, and I’ve got a lot of interesting guest vocalists and musicians on there with me. I made a lot of the album in Nashville. Some of it was recorded here in Dallas and some of it was recorded in Southern California. I’m pretty pleased with it.”

Jefferson Ross is recording a new album. It’s called ‘ISLE OF HOPE’. It's being funding with a ‘pre-sale’.

Luke Bryan has an album out on March 5th titled Spring Break:Here To Party

Its not his next studio album. This release appears to be a re-packaged re-release of many of his past EP Spring Break songs. There are songs on this 'new album' called "Just A Sip" and "Buzzkill".

Kasey Musgraves talks about the making of her albumSAME TRAILER DIFFERENT PARK, co-produced with hit songwriters Luke Laird and Shane McAnally, which drops March 19 >> YouTube- http://vevo.ly/11viiak

EMI Records’ Eric Church will release a 17-track live album, Caught In The Act: Live, on Tuesday, April 9, 2013 featuring songs from Sinners Like Me, Carolina, and his CMA Award-winning 2011 release, CHIEF.

The album was recorded at Chattanooga’s Tivoli Theatre in October 2012 and is Church’s first live recording. A double gatefold vinyl version of the record will also be made available on National Record Store Day, Saturday, April 20. The package will include four additional tracks and a special whiskey-infused 7-inch.

Caught In The Act: Live features raw, electric performances of songs like “Pledge Allegiance To The Hag,” “Smoke A Little Smoke,” “How ‘Bout You,” “Creepin’” and more.

American Songwriter noted of the live taping, “[The] rendition of the soulful hit ‘Springsteen’ is one of his best, slipping into the first verse of Springsteen’s ‘Born to Run’ towards to end.” The writer adds, “[Church] sang and played just differently enough to create variety from his studio versions and his performance confirmed that his voice is easily just as good as how it sounds on a produced record. Church was nominated for two Grammy® awards this year, both for his hit, “Springsteen,” in the categories Best Country Solo Performance and Best Country Song. More details/ EPK/Track Listing EB Media PR

Eric Church says his Grammy-nominated “Springsteen” takes him back to when he was 16-years-old at his first amphitheater experience>>Audio

The Steeldrivers have released their album HAMMER DOWN on Rounder Records on Feb 5, 2013 - Amazon UK

Dion Pride the son of legendary Country Music Hall of Famer, Charley Pride, has inherited his father’s talents. Dion was a quick study as a child, he started singing and playing guitar at age 5. He took up the piano at 8, drums at 10, bass at 12 and has been performing since he was 14 years old. The younger Pride went off to NorthTexasStateMusicCollege

Country legend Charley Pride made this statement in his interview with The Boot in 2011 "He's been opening for me," says Charley. "He opened for me in Canada and in Ireland and he gets a standing ovation”.

Dion & Charley Pride

2013 seems to be a great year for this talented singer songwriter. Dion has released “Might As Well Be Me” to radio. Radio has taken on to the single quickly. In just 60 days the track has reached number 1 on charts like Roots and Cashbox.

Dion’s album WE ALL GOTTA LIVE HERE (released 20 April 2011) is available on Amazon UK

2011 Dove Awards’ “Artist of the Year,” Francesca Battistelli, released her brand new single, “Strangely Dim,” from her HUNDRED MORE YEARS Deluxe Edition album to iTunes. Written by Battistelli, Seth Mosely and Mia Fields, the track features inspiring lyrics fused with her distinctive pop/soul sound.

The full album, featuring “Strangely Dim” and four additional new songs, will be made available for purchase on March 12.On March 7, the second leg of her “Hundred More Years Tour” commences in Toronto with special guests The Afters and Kyle Sherman.

Produced by Ian Eskelin and Seth Mosely, “Strangely Dim” (Fervent Records/Word) has already made a huge splash at radio with 47 first week radio adds. “I love this song because it reminds me daily that God is the source of my peace, and even when things are chaotic all around me, He is in control,” commented Battistelli. “Yielding our lives and our desire for control to Him brings a peace that makes our doubts and fear fade away.”

Listen to the Audio– It was released Feb 5, 2013 and available on Amazon UK

Jaida Dreyer, theStreamsound Records newcomer is set to release her first full-length studio album, titled I AM JAIDA DREYER, on February 26.The album is produced by Grammy-winning music industry veteran Byron Gallimore, known for his work with Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, and Sugarland, among others. The track "The Boy Who Cried Love" features an appearance by co-writer Kristian Bush of Sugarland.Of the upcoming release, Dreyer says, "I'm overwhelmed by the love and space I've been given to make my art.This record is a collection of different moments in my life.I hope people connect with the songs and recognize moments of their own life in them."

Last year Dreyer charted on Billboard's Hot Country Songs with her single "Confessions," and is set to release the follow-up "Half Broke Horses" on February 19.

PRESS RELEASES

Joel Crouse, theShow Dog-Universal Music recording artist was born and raised in Holland, Mass. He penned his first song at the ripe age of 14, formed a band by age 15, graduated from high school by age 16, and signed a record deal by age 19. Now, at age 20, he is poised to release his first single, “If You Want Some,” to country radio and iTunes (US Store) on February 5. Crouse co-wrote the up-tempo party anthem alongside acclaimed songwriter Luke Laird (No. 1 Billboard singles include Blake Shelton’s “Hillbilly Bone,” Rodney Atkins’ “Take a Back Road,” Eric Church’s “Drink in My Hand” and Little Big Town's "Pontoon”) and his producer Jamie Houston (High School Musical, Christina Aguilera).

“My life has definitely changed in the past couple years,” states Crouse.“I’ve been on the road the last few months visiting country radio, and that’s just been incredible. I’m very thankful.” - EB Media -See EPK

Note - The song is being promoted to the UK and Europe via February’s Hotdisc 170

Shinnston, West Virginia-native and country recording artist Chelsea Boyles has signed with producer Dan Mitchell, publicity firm Nashville Music Media, and social media firm Nocturnal Music Group for representation. Dan is best known for co-writing the Alabama hit "If You’re Gonna Play In Texas” and his production work with such legendary recording acts as Johnny PayCheck, Tiny Tim and others

Despite her full-time enrollment in FairmontStateUniversity in Fairmont, West Virginia as an elementary education major, her music industry partnerships have been a long-time coming. ﻿

Chelsea Boyles
(Click to enlarge)

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I'm extremely excited for the next chapter of my music career and so thankful to Johnny Cochran for aiding me in this progression," said Boyles. "I feel that this is the perfect opportunity to really jump into this and make great things happen. I know that partnering with Dan Mitchell, Nocturnal Music Group, and Nashville Music Media will lead to nothing but success."

Boyles is currently working on her first studio, yet-to-be-titled album with Mitchell at Nashville's The Tracking Room.

Chelsea has spent the last year making monthly trips to Nashville, Tennessee. During this time she has met with the legendary songwriter and producer Noro Wilson, producer Bruce Walls, songwriters Steve Dean and Billy Montana and publisher Sherrill Blackman. She has also worked with Judy Rodman and Linda Davis.

“Nashville is taking notice and she is on her way to the top!” says Linda Davis (Country Singer / Mum to Lady A’s Hillary Scott)

Breelan Angel, the debut artist from the newly formed independent label, MisBehavin' Records, is pleased to announce the release of her first single, "It's My Turn."

Blurb: A fiery anthem for strong females everywhere, this upbeat tune was penned by Breelan with Nashville songwriters Greg Barnhill ("Walkaway Joe" by Trisha Yearwood) and Joanna Cotten ("The Prize); it was produced by Dwight Baker (Kelly Clarkson, Bleu Edmonson) at Matchbox Studios in Austin, Texas.

Hailing from Baytown, Texas, singer-songwriter Breelan is a self-described "steel magnolia" and "It's My Turn" is a personal testament to her Texas-gal determination. Showing off her talent as a vocalist and a songwriter, Breelan chose this as her debut single from the forthcoming album of the same name because of its strong message.

"I wrote 'It's My Turn' as an anthem to represent female empowerment and independence," stated Breelan. "Girls love to go out with their friends and enjoy themselves just as much as men. This song is for all women who need a day to themselves, a new pair of high heels and a night out on the town." For more info and press reviews - SpinDrift Media & Entertainment Press

Darling Parade a female fronted Alt/Rock/Pop band buzz band from Nashville have released “Ghost,” (Page 2 Music Inc) on Jan 22, 2013 the first single from their upcoming full-length album Battle Scars & Broken Hearts which is the band’s first full-length album, following a campaign to raise money for the project on the popular funding platform Kickstarter. ﻿

Darling Parade

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Darling Parade formed in early 2007 against the humble backdrop of fields and farmhouses. They came to fruition after lead vocalist Kristin Kearns asked Nate McCoy and his previous group to play a local show in southern Illinois. She was only 15 at the time, but even then, had a way of captivating an audience.After adding drummer Casey Conrad via Craigslist and bassist Dustin McCoy, the group was complete.

They have now landed their first national tour with NBC’s “The Voice” winner Pop/Country artist Cassadee Pope (Hey Monday)

Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge, MusicCity’s legendary honky-tonk, will celebrate its 53rd Birthday in downtown Nashville on November 21st with a Broadway street-party hosted by Great American Country (GAC) personality Storme Warren.

The annual event will be the kick-off event celebrating and honoring CountryMusic Hall of Fame member George Jones’ final Nashville concert, which takes place the following evening Friday, November 22nd at the Bridgestone Arena -Webster & Associates

George Jones final Nashville concert of his career is already gearing up to be a star-studded event - Charlie Daniels, Lorrie Morgan, Randy Travis, Jamey Johnson, and Gene Watson are the first round of special guests that will join previously announced guest Tanya Tucker to help honor this legendary entertainer with special performances - Webster & Associates

The Deep Dark Woods appear in the new motion picture Safe Haven (in theaters February 14) performing a brand new original song, “My Baby’s Got To Pay The Rent,” written specifically for the movie.

The band is also featured on the soundtrack for the film. The movie is based on the bestselling book by Nicholas Sparks (The Notebook) and directed by Oscar nominee Lasse Hallström (The Cider House Rules, Chocolat).

Safe Haven is a romantic thriller starring Julianne Hough, Josh Duhamel and Cobie Smulders. It's about a young woman with a mysterious past who moves to a small North Carolina town. In it, the Deep Dark Woods play themselves and perform during a scene at a July 4th party.

The Deep Dark Woods are going into the studio this spring to record their new Sugar Hill/Six Shooter album with producer Jonathan Wilson (Dawes and Father John Misty). (Sugar Hill Records)

APA Nashville has signed Outlaw Country royalty, Shooter Jennings. Jennings’ new album, THE OTHER LIFE (Black Country Rock/Entertainment One Nashville), and its short film will be released on March 12, 2013.

“With Shooter’s multi-talented interests in music, film, television and merchandising, there is a virtual franchise of opportunities everywhere you turn,” commented APA Nashville’s Stu Walker. “We could not be more excited to be working with him.”

So long, frigid February, Chesney gives us a scorching hot escape in the vid directed by Shaun Silva, whichshows Kenny pulling what he humorously likens to a "Ferris Bueller" move. Leaving work behind, he's having a blast in the Caribbean -- swimming, sail-boarding, and rocking out on the beach. The singer's beloved old blue chair even makes a cameo appearance ... in a bit of an unexpected place!

The multi-platinum-selling musician's co-stars in the clip are some of the most beautiful video vixens in country music -- and aren't just pretty faces hired by casting agents. These "long-legged models" are actually the singer's friends. "Those are girls I know from the island who did the very thing this song is about," Kenny explains, "and that freedom from what's expected just makes them shine."

"I spent my whole life running around / Still let the wind kinda blow me around / Well I dropped a note in a bottle / To a long legged model / And I traded it in for a whole 'nother world / A pirate flag and an island girl," the country superstar sings in the chorus of this anthemic ode to carefree rebellion.

Described as ” the swaggering anthem of every day rebellion under the radar” Written by David Lee Murphy (“Living In Fast Forward,” “Dust On The Bottle”) and Russ Copperman, the song about an East Tennessee kid who jumps a bus on a whim one night and rides it to the edge of the country is all about jettisoning what’s expected in order to embrace what can be

Kenny’s April 30’s LIFE ON A ROCK, is available for pre-order for the album is available at Amazon.com

Rising duo, Baylou, have released their brand-new single, 'Hoedown.' The song is the first single from the sister's debut album, GO TO HELL & I LOVE YOU, which is set for release March 15. The girls are also set to perform songs from the record live in Australian at CMC Rocks The Hunter 2013. Lyric Video - YouTube

COUNTRY GOSSIP

Mindy McCready’s problems continue to snowball.

Sources tell E! News that the troubled country star's two children had been taken by child services. A judge has since ordered that McCready be committed to a treatment facility for alcohol abuse and a mental health evaluation.

This new information comes just weeks after the death of David Wilson, McCready's boyfriend and father of her youngest son. An investigation into his supposed suicide is ongoing.

"Family members sought to have Mindy committed to a mental-health facility and there was an emergency hearing," a source confesses. "They just got out of court a little while ago and the judge committed her for up to 21 days."

Another insider claims that McCready admitted to drinking since the passing of Wilson, in order to cope with the terrible loss. She is adamant that she had nothing to do with her boyfriend's untimely death, denouncing tabloid rumors to the contrary. Authorities are still awaiting autopsy results.

McCready's 6-year old son, Zander, and 10-month-old son, Zayne, are currently in the care of Department of Human Services in Arkansas, E! News reports.

While marriage is hard no matter who you are, Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton definitely don't have it easy, with the "Sure Be Cool If You Did" singer spending most of their first year of marriage in Los Angeles working on "The Voice" and his bride touring the country on her Revolution and On Fire tours.

This past fall, she admitted that since their May 2011 wedding, they'd only spent five months together. "We didn't even have all our clothes at the same house," she told Good Housekeeping. "After our anniversary came, it was like, 'All right, now we can start married life.'" So how do they make it work?

Miranda shares with E! her three rules for spicing up a relationship.

1. Communicate: "If you can't jump on the phone to chat with your significant other, keep up the texting." However, the "Mama's Broken Heart" singer isn't shy to end a text conversation when she knows her cowboy has been drinking. "We know when it's slur text," she told iHeartRadio. "He's slurring in his texts, we're done. [laughs]"

2. Make time: "Make time for him at least once a week." Her husband has cited this as being the key to their relationship, telling Lancaster, Pa., radio station WIOV, "If she has time off and I'm not home, she'll come out and find me on the road ... that probably saves our relationship as much as anything." (Source - The Boot)

Brad Paisley and his actress wife, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, now starring on ABC's Nashville, are selling their home in L.A.?

According to the Los Angeles Times, the 3,394-square-foot house is in the Pacific Palisades area and it has beamed ceilings, stained-glass windows, a fireplace, four bedrooms, three bathrooms and a detached garage with a bonus room. By L.A. celebrity standards, that's a fairly modest house—with the fairly modest asking price of $2.995 million.

The good news for the Paisleys is that they could make a nifty profit if they get their asking price: The couple bought the home for $1.644 million in 2004.

Nashville’s Charm: Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles, her hubby and new babe have moved from Atlanta to a farm in Nashville

TWEETS

Sara Evans: Working on my new album! I wrote an awesome song today with David Hodges and Chris DeStefano.

Beyoncé sucked all the energy out of the Super Bowl in New Orleans which later knocked out the floodlights!

Several country stars thought she knocked it out of the park with the halftime show Sunday (Feb.3) – Video Link

Carrie Underwood tweeted, "and @Beyonce just made all the rest of us singers look stupid! In the most awesome way possible! Way to work it! #BestEverHalftimeShow."

Charles Kelley of Lady Antebellum tweeted, "@beyonce was so bootylicious that she knocked the power out at the #SuperBowl."

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